Bobbin clutch



y 1948- Q J. J. PICHETTE 2,442,247

BOBBIN CLUTCH Filed Sept. 19, 1946 Y INVENTOR.

$ W f/y Patented May 25, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 2,442,247 BOBBIN CLUTCH John J. Pichette, Whitinsville, Mass.

Application September 19, 1946, Serial No. 697,847

Claims.

This invention relates to a bobbin clutch for securing a bobbin or other thread carrier on a spinning spindle. I

The objects of the invention include the provision of a clutch of the class described which prevents the entrance of dirt into the spindle head or clutching part and which, at the same time, operates easily to clutch the bobbin to the spindle.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a bobbin clutch comprising a spindle wharl having a central aperture receiving the spindle and a circular depression forming a groove surrounding the spindle, in which groove is located the reentr-ant runs of a series of bent leaf springs, each spring having a base set on a projecting flange on the wharl, the base bein held thereto by a press fitted cap or the like, and each spring terminating in a free end extending longitudinally of the spindle but at a slight angle thereto and being secured to a clutching segment, the segments being the bobbin clutching members which are spring pressed radially outwardly from the spindle by the aforementioned springs, and including a head on the wharl provided with stops engaging with similar stops on the segments limiting the motion of the segments under the action of the springs.

A still further object of the invention resides in a modification of the spring construction wherein a ring having dependent spring elements is secured to the spindle itself, said spring elements extending reentrantly and at an angle to the spindle and being secured to the segments above referred to for the same purpose.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a spindle embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the spring construction;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 shows a modified spring construction.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the reference numeral It! indicates the spindle wharl and the reference numeral l2 indicates the whirl, it being understood that these parts are fast to the spindle. The spindle itself is indicated at M.

The wharl Ill is provided with a vertically extending circular flange l6 which surrounds the a head 18 through which the spindle [4 projects and which is slotted to accommodate a series of segments 20. These segments are spring pressed outwardly and have an outward formation designed to clutch the bobbin when slid down over the head. The head I8 provides stops at 22 which are engaged by stops at the free ends of segments 20 to limit outward movement of the segments under influence of the springs.

These springs may take the form of a circular ring 26 seated on the end of flange l6 and having inwardly directed spring fingers which extend down into the space between flange l6 and spindle l 4, and are bent upwardly and outwardly,

see Figs. 2 and 4, so as to provide resilient fingers 28. These fingers normally extend at an angle to the spindle and received inslots in the segments so that the latter are anchored to the spring fingers. It is to be noted that the circular ring 26 may be divided along lines 30 onto a series of spring segments if desired.

The segments 20 fit fairly exactly in the slots in the head and since the segments are spring pressed outwardly, there is little or no chance of dirt entering the head of the wharl. However, at; the same time, it will be seen that the segments have imparted thereto a resilient spring action which depends not only on the reentrant portions but also on the free end portions thereof as at 32.

As a modification of this device. the spindle II in Fig. 5 may have secured thereto a ring 34 having dependent and reversely bent spring fingers 36 which may be received in the slots in the segments as shown in Fig. 2.

A cap 38 having a press fit is set down over flange [6 to anchor the springs 26 so that the construction presents a unitary device which is sure in operation to hold the bobbin lightly enough for insertion and removal thereof and, at the same time, fixing the bobbin to the spindle so that the bobbin may revolve therewith.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than is set forth in the claims but what I claim is:

1. A bobbin clutch for a spindle having a wharl, said clutch comprising a head on the wharl, said head having an internal recess and a series of slots extending to the wharl, a movable bobbin clutching segment in each slot, each segment having a slot, 2. spring finger in each segment slot, said spring fingers tending to urge the segments out of the head, a reversely bent portion on each spring finger, and means holding the latter to the wharl adjacent the ends of said reversely bent portions.

2. A bobbin clutch for a spindle having a wharl,

a series of leaf springs secured in fixed relation to the spindle, each spring having an angular bent up portion, a bobbin clutching head, bobbin clutching segments therein, said segmmts being slotted, and, the. angular bent up portionsotzthe springs being received in the segment slots.

3. A bobbin clutch for a spindle having a head,

fixed thereto comprising a series of segments movably mounted in the head, and means resil iently pressing the segments outwardly of. the

head to bobbin clutching position, saidmean's comprising a leaf spring for-each se ment; said springs being secured in fixed relation. to the spindle, each leaf spring having an upwardly and outwardly inclined portion secured to a segment, each spring being prov-ided with a-free floating U -shaped portion, one of the-legswfwhich is secured to a segment and 'the otherigof which is secured in fixed relation to thespindle. V

4'. The bobbin clutch of'claim 3*includiiig; a

wharl havng a groove therein, the closed end" Number 4 of the U portions of the springs being received in the groove.

5. A bobbin clutch for a spindle having a wharl and a head thereon, said head being hollow and slotted and said when having a groove, a bobbin clutching segment floating in each slot in the head and each segment having a slotted end in the wharl groove, a. spring for each segment, each-spring havin a flat end of the, wharl, a cap hohlingsaid iiat spring; ends, to the, wharl, each spring extending re-entrantly into the groove and then extending upwardly and outwardly into the slots in the segments, so that the. latter are resiliently positioned in angular relationvto the spindle and head to partially protrnde'therefrom, and means limiting the extent Qiprotrusion: of: said segments.

JOHN J. PICHETTE.

,REFERENGES CITED The'foliowing'reierences" are of record in the file'of this patent Um'I'ED-STA ES PATENTS Name Date l,86 9;049-' Lemoine et-al- June9; 1931 

